Heaney Farmhouse Brewery

Heaney Farmhouse Brewery grew from Suzanne and Mal McCay's shared love of beer and a desire to bring new life to The Wood, Suzanne's family farm in Bellaghy. Experiences drinking everything from crisp Helles in Munich to bold Californian IPAs helped shape their interest in brewing at a time when they felt the choice of locally produced beer at home remained limited. The brewery was founded in 2014, initially producing its beers away from the farm while plans for a permanent brewhouse took shape.

In 2015, Mal left his career in sales to work at Boundary Brewing in Belfast, learning commercial brewing through the practical realities of production, cleaning and long days in the brewhouse. Heaney's early beers were produced at Boundary while the McCays worked towards establishing a brewery of their own at The Wood.

That ambition was realised in 2019 when production began at the purpose-built brewery on the Bellaghy farm. The brewery operates using 100% renewable power and draws water from its own supply, connecting production directly to the land around it. From this base, Heaney produces established favourites alongside seasonal and special releases, primarily in bottle and can rather than traditional cask ale.

The Wood itself is fundamental to Heaney's identity. The farm has been in Suzanne's family for generations and was farmed by her father, Hugh Heaney, brother of poet Seamus Heaney. Following Hugh's death, preserving and bringing new purpose to the farm became particularly important to Suzanne and Mal. Brewing has helped transform the site while retaining its connection to the family's history and the landscape around Bellaghy.

That relationship between beer, place and heritage also shapes the visitor experience. Heaney welcomes people to The Wood for brewery tours, tastings and events, providing an opportunity to see the brewing process and understand the connection between the beer and the farm where it is made. The site can also host celebrations and other gatherings, extending its role beyond production into a place where people can spend time together.

Today, Heaney describes its philosophy through the idea of things being 'worthwhile': drinks worth making, time worth taking and a legacy worth preserving. From its early beers brewed at Boundary to a renewable-powered brewery on the family farm, Heaney has developed around the belief that careful work, a strong connection to place and the people sharing the finished beer are as important as the beer itself.